Compare towns
Highgate vs Randolph vs Worcester vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Highgate | Randolph | Worcester | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
4,843Highest |
831Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Worcester and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
| Highgate and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Randolph and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.4Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.